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The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of God endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8
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Though a mask obscured the majority of Kakashi's face, his eyes alone conveyed his fright, as his pupils constricted in trepidation. The enticing crimson of his sharingan morphed into a lifeless white, and at the last second, he could decode the form of the invisible force!
It was like a spiralling vortex of azure, and the momentary display, within the span of a mere second, was sufficient to deduce the true essence behind the invisible force. However, knowledge alone wasn't going to help him escape his impending plight!
To confirm this jutsu, Kakashi cast a glance at the perpetrator, whose lips parted inaudibly, but Kakashi could discern the mouth movement. As such, though inaudible, it was a deep, and sinister echo in Kakashi's ears; a powerful jutsu he was all too familiar with...
"Rasengan!"
The perilous, invisible form propagated an outward pulse that brushed the foliage of leaves, revealing the ground untainted!
Kakashi's body was pushed back, his feet losing grip on the branch he stood on before his body plummeted into the earth!
*BOOM*
A tremendous whirlwind followed suit, detaching the trees from their roots, and tossing them to great distances. It was like a hurricane! The potent force refused to persist, and even the cloaked adversary was forced to lurch back, avoiding the avalanche of airborne trees and debris!
Soon enough, the pressure was mitigated, leaving behind a voluminous cloud of dust, and a trail of devastation in its wake, as evidenced by the chasm!
The instigator responsible for this entire situation strode toward the chasm, swinging his sword valiantly as though conveying dominance.
Veiled in a dull cloak, the man couldn't be discerned. His cowl cast a shadow over his features, yet it was unable to quell the pulsing scarlet of his cruel gaze, as he stared indifferently at the area of the impact.
"!"
The cloaked adversary was forced to heighten vigilance, detecting a feint fluctuation in the cloud of dust. As such, he assumed a defensive stance.
*BZZZ*
Through the cloud of smoke emerged a sapphire streak, bridging the distance with the cloaked man in an instant! The identity was none other than Kakashi, who blurred as he closed the distance, his kunai ready to pierce the enemy. However, this was a speed the cloaked man could attune to easily.
Lunging forth with his sword, a golden hue erupted forth, and both collateral hues collided...
*BZZZZZZZ*
The terrain crackled with lightning as both attacks met head-on, producing venomous streaks of yellow and blue lightning as it soared into the heavens. The earth beneath fractured, and the terrain echoed with the sound of this singular metal clash.
Before long, the dust settled, revealing both individuals with their backs turned to each other stuck in their latest offensive stance. However...
*THUD*
Kakashi was the first to take a knee!
"Tch," Kakashi clicked his tongue, a nervous bead of sweat slowly trickling by his temple. He looked toward his abdominal, where the clothing was ripped to shreds revealing his well-defined abs, which seemed heavily bruised.
Kakashi was faced with defeat as the adversary raised his sword, pointing it toward Kakashi's nape.
"Well, no matter, I haven't lost..." Kakashi muttered. His entirety emitted an ethereal blue hue, before crackling with lightning. It twirled around Kakashi's body with grace, as though it were a sentient in itself.
But it didn't stop there, as Kakashi's entire anatomy morphed into lightning, streaming toward the cloaked adversary!
"!"
The lightning wrapped around the cloaked man, shocking his body.
"Ugh!" The cloaked man grunted.
The cloaked man fell to the ground, surrendering to the embrace of unconsciousness.
"That was a Lightning Clone," Kakashi explained, pocketing his hands as he emerged from the darkness and stood in front of the cloaked figure as though reigning triumphant.
"But it appears that wasn't enough... Uzumaki Saruto," Kakashi continued, his pupils looking back as he noticed a cloaked figure behind him, pointing a sword toward his nape.
*POOF*
The unconscious cloaked figure in front of Kakashi exploded into a cloud of white smoke; it was merely a Shadow Clone. The real one pointed his sword toward Kakashi's nape, standing behind.
"I lose," Kakashi resigned, raising his hands in surrender before turning around, welcomed by the gleaming tip of the sword of the assailant pointed at his neck.
Removing his cowl, the adversary's features came to light, revealing his lustrous, vermilion hair that swayed gently in response to the breeze and narrowed crimson eyes that reflected the vicissitudes of life, hinting at his seasoned expertise as a Shinobi.
"And I presume it was you that was watching my family?" Saruto inquired.
Kakashi straightened his posture before bowing his head, "I apologise. I had to make sure the boy was in safe hands."
"I see... Well, in that case, let's cast aside our differences. I'm sure you understand I did this out of reflex," Saruto excused, extending a hand for a handshake. Kakashi accepted the gesture that held promised camaraderie, dusted his clothes, and sighed at this ordeal.
Kakashi asserted, "Now I understand why Lord Third told me to be wary. I can see that you're definitely capable Saruto."
"Haha," Saruto scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Well, I should get going Kakashi-sa-"
"Just Kakashi will do," Kakashi inferred.
"Right, Kakashi," Saruto inclined.
Saruto turned around, his cloak stylishly billowing as it followed his manoeuvre.
"Saruto..." Kakashi called, earning Saruto's attention, who arched a brow, and questioned, "Yes?"
Though Kakashi was masked, his eyes were enough to convey his smile hidden beneath, and he spoke, "Look after Naruto, and I hope that we get along on good terms."
Saruto acknowledged with a smile, "Yeah, absolutely, thank you. I also look forward to working with you."
Kakashi raised a finger, "I have just one question."
Hayato welcomed, "Ask away."
Kakashi resumed, "That moment when you disappeared..."
During the bout, Kakashi was reminded of the moment Saruto threw the sword at him, which he dodged, and just when he was about to purge him using Chidori, Saruto vanished?! Instead, Kakashi had struck the tree behind Saruto's initial spot.
However, it wasn't merely speed.
Saruto understood what Kakashi was implying. After all, Kakashi was a student of the notorious Lord Fourth, so of course Kakashi knew from his accumulated experience the jutsu cast by Saruto;
"That was the Flying Raijin, wasn't it? When you threw your sword..." Kakashi clarified.
Saruto acknowledged, "Yep, you're sharp. I'm quite adept at it."
Kakashi observed the man's visage, who appeared to be humbly smiling and scratching the back of his head sheepishly. While it may seem to the naked eye that Saruto was your ordinary Shinobi, this bout proved otherwise.
Kakashi now had a strong impression of this man. There was rarely anyone who could combat him at all in the first place, he was that strong, but Saruto, a nobody, was able to get the better of him!
Once again, Kakashi was reminded of the convulsing vortex of azure that had caused a crater in the ground, and the flung trees sprawled across the terrain was a testimony to the spasming power held within!
He added, "And not to mention, that invisible jutsu... That was a Rasengan."
Kakashi lifted a brow in scepticism; first the Flying Raijin, and then the strange Rasengan...
A vanishing Rasengan!
Coupled with his besetting speed, Kakashi could only think of one person aside from Minato with equivalent prevalence...
"Saru-"
"Kakashi, since I do respect you... I guess I wouldn't mind," Saruto interjected.
Saruto mouthed something, to which Kakashi's eyes widened. A heavy wind shrouded the terrain, as though mirroring Kakashi's dismay.
Kakashi muttered, his tone carrying disbelief, "You're..."
Saruto's lips curled up, and he intoned, "Please do keep this a secret. Not only for me, but for Naruto's sake."
Before Kakashi could voice anything else, the man disappeared.
Kakashi was now left alone in a palpable silence, embracing the chilly night breeze. His visage reflected his disbelief.
*RUSTLE* *RUSTLE*
Startling him from his reverie was a rustling sound that emerged from a nearby bush. Shifting his gaze toward the source, Kakashi watched the leaves of the bush rustle, and it was evident a human silhouette was emerging.
First, the feet protruded through the bush, and then, the entire body of another person plunged through... upside down?
Yes, quite literally, this person appeared to be doing a handstand.
This person had bowl-cut-like hair and donned tight green clothing with matching leg warmers and gloves. The man was none other than Might Guy.
"What the hell was tha-" Guy bellowed, but came to an abrupt halt when a familiar figure reflected before his slit eyes.
Eyes widening, Guy called, flashing his signature smile, "Oh Kakashi."
By the way, the man was still doing a handstand.
"Guy?" Kakashi replied.
Guy interrogated, "What happened Kakashi? I came here as fast as I could when I heard all that commotion."
Kakashi replied, "Right."
Though internally, Kakashi mulled, 'Came here as fast as you can? Not very plausible seeing that you're still doing a handstand.'
Guy analysed the terrain, his brows furrowing at the large crater on the ground formed by Saruto who had struck Kakashi with an invisible jutsu... Or rather, the Rasengan!
Furthermore, the usually lush landscape prevalent in trees was now sprawled in unrooted trees, hinting at an incredulous force!
Following Guy's line of sight, Kakashi feigned ignorance: "I was training, that's all."
Guy stared at Kakashi, scanning him from head to toe, but paused on the abdomen, revealing his bruised abs. Kakashi remained indifferent, revealing not an ounce of emotion.
"Kakashi..." Guy called.
"Yeah?" Kakashi responded callously.
A crisp breeze brushed past the duo, their hair ruffling as a result. Kakashi was beginning to sweat, knowing full well about Guy's keen observation. Guy's eyes squinted as he assessed the body of his rival...
He was on to something...
And then his eyes sparkled in adoration; "AS EXPECTED OF MY ETERNAL RIVAL! I SAY YOUTH!" Guy yelled, expressing his enthusiasm. And then he mumbled to himself, "In that case, I shall do a hundred more laps around the village!"
Kakashi could only wryly chuckle at the man's antics as he dashed away while doing a handstand.
'Phew,' he heaved a sigh of relief at Guy's departing figure.
***
Back in the Naruto household:
"Oji-chan, you're back," Naruto called, his spirited gaze fixed on the haggard Hayato entering the furnished living room.
"Yeah," Hayato replied, pegging his scabbard with his sheathed sword on the wall. Folding his cloak on a chair, he sat beside Kaede, draping an arm around her.
Kaede inquired, her tone laced with concern, "Is everything fine dear?"
Hayato reassured with a smile, "Yep, of course I am."
"Why did you take your sword with you papa?" Karin questioned, and Naruto too supported by nodding his head.
"J-Just in case. A shinobi must always be wary, right Naruto?" Hayato answered dubiously, tactfully evading the query.
Naruto's eyes sparkled in admiration, "W-Woaaaahh, oji-chan you're so cool."
Brushing his fingers through his hair, Hayato replied pridefully, "Yeah, you know me, I'm your super cool uncle."
Naruto mumbled to himself, poised with a finger beneath his chin and relaying Hayato's sagacious words, "A shinobi must always be wary."
Attempting to deviate from the incoming inquiries of the children, Hayato proposed, "A-Anyway, how about we continue our questionnaire?"
"Y-Yeah," Naruto stammered, sparing a glance at Karin who shrugged her shoulder. "I-In that case..." Naruto turned to Hayato, his eyes firm.
The ecstatic aura of the youth was replaced by a sombre, and nervous one, and he prompted, "Can you tell me all about my parents?"
Hayato's and Kaede's lips curved as though anticipating this, and Hayato initiated, "Absolutely. For starters, let's see..."
Hayato poised with a finger on his chin and stared at the ceiling with a contemplative expression, as though struggling to proceed further. As such, Kaede suggested, her tone a whisper, "Let's start with Minato-san."
Hayato nodded in agreement, chiding along, "Alright, so your father..."
He paused, to which Naruto and Karin drew in a breath of cold air in anticipation. Karin didn't know why, but she gulped alongside Naruto.
"...Is the 4th Hokage." Hayato completed with nonchalance, a radiant grin plastered on his face.
The entire house was enveloped in pin-drop ambience.